It’s disheartening to buy something one week and see the same item priced for considerably less money at another store a week later. Depending on where you made your purchase, however, you might not be out a dime. Fortunately, most major retail outlets offer some sort of price-matching guarantee that will allow you to pay another store’s price at their store. In some cases, you might even be able to do so retroactively if you spot a better deal after you buy.

 

Target will price match most items in its stores if you bring proof of the lower price and the item is identical. Retroactive price matching is available for purchases made within 14 days. If you buy an item on Target.com and find a cheaper price for the same item elsewhere, you can get an in-store price match within the same number of days. Like Walmart, Target limits the online competitors it includes in its price-match policy. Online sites you can use for price matching include Amazon.com, Walmart, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Staples.

 

Best Buy lives up to its name by price matching with all local competitors, as well as these online sites: Amazon.com, Crutchfield.com, Dell.com, HP.com, and TigerDirect.com. Best Buy will also match its own online and in-store prices, if the two are different, and refund the difference during the return and exchange period, which is one of the many ways to save money at the store.

 

Best Buy does not price match these items:

 

Kohl’s matches in-store competitor pricing, so you could save money on clothes and many other items. Bring in the competitor’s ad with the current date on it, item information, and sale price. Online pricing does not qualify for this offer. The price match also does not apply during the week of Thanksgiving or the week after. The retailer also gives you Kohl’s Cash and Yes2You Rewards on price-matched products. You can redeem them when price-matching, too, but coupons won’t apply.

 

J.C. Penney offers an impressive price-matching policy. The store matches competitors’ prices, though items price matched with its online site do not qualify for additional percentage-off offers. If you already purchased the item, you can get a price match within 14 days of your purchase — just remember to bring in the competitor’s ad and your store receipt. J.C. Penney does not price match third-party sellers on marketplaces such as Amazon.com or auction sites like eBay. The retailer also excludes competitors’ free items, bundles, or clearance prices. It also reserves the right to limit the number of items that may be price-matched.

 

Bed Bath & Beyond price matches direct competitors as long as the items are identical. The policy also applies if the item is sold directly by Amazon.com and not a third party. The store will let you stack a manufacturer’s coupon on top of a price match, too.

 

One warning: Be careful that your coupon is not from a retailer or brand that also has retail stores. It will not be considered a manufacturer’s coupon in that case. Bed Bath & Beyond will not match pricing on items that competitors have on clearance, closeout, or liquidation. If you see language such as “limited time,” “limited quantity” or “while supplies last,” assume you cannot price match it.

 

Home Depot will match prices at local retail competitors on identical and in-stock items. For your price match, bring in the ad or a photo of the deal. That doesn’t include seasonal or clearance items, custom orders, volume or wholesale discount pricing, professional services such as labor or installation costs, or items sold via a third-party or discount site. Additionally, don’t expect a price match on open-box merchandise or any item that has been reconditioned, refurbished, or previously discounted.

 

Lowe’s offers price matching for an in-stock, identical item sold from a local or online retailer. Simply present a Lowe’s employee with the ad showing the lower price when you visit your local store, or you can receive a price match on an online order by calling 877-465-6937 and talking to a customer care associate. Restrictions apply, however. Customers cannot price match installation or labor, closeout sales, special orders, or clearance, discontinued and damaged items, for example. Price matching also is limited to “reasonable quantities.”

 

Staples will price match virtually any of its products — as long as the items are identical. The office retailer will honor most competitors’ prices, including online sellers such as Amazon.com. The items must be both sold and shipped by the competitor, however. In other words, no third-party sellers qualify. It is also one match, per customer, per item.

 

You can request the price match when you buy an item. If you discover a lower price within 14 days of your purchase, Staples will refund the difference. Here’s what Staples doesn’t price match: instant rebates, mail-in rebates, or similar discounts; its own or competitors’ special events and timed sales; Staples tech services; gift cards; and a few other items.

 

The home office and business supply stores match pricing on identical items sold by competitors including Amazon.com, but not third-party sellers. To receive your price match, bring in a printed ad, receipt, proof of in-store signage, or online offer on a mobile device. Purchases made within 14 days also qualify for this offer. Don’t expect a price match on closeout, clearance or liquidation sales, Black Friday and other holiday sales, special orders or gift-card offers.

 

Only select Newegg.com products qualify for the company’s price-match guarantee; look for the Price Match Guarantee badge on the product page. If you find a lower price on any major retailer’s site within 14 days of your purchase, Newegg will refund the difference to a Newegg Customer Care card, which is good for purchases on Newegg.com for 90 days. Some restrictions apply. Newegg offers one price match per customer. Prices linked to major events, such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday, are excluded from price matching.

 

Nordstrom will match the price of a “selected competitor” on an item, provided it’s the identical color and size as one offered at a Nordstrom location. Additionally, if an item is reduced in price, you can get an adjusted sale price for it as long as it’s within 14 days of your original purchase. Exclusions for price adjustments include items Nordstrom offers in its Limited-Time Sale, Extra Savings, Anniversary Sale, Daily Deals, or Beauty Daily Deals promotions.

 

Michaels will not only match a competitor’s price, but it will also beat it by 10% as long as you bring the ad, photo, or printout to the store with you when you make your purchase or within the next seven days. That deal applies to any brick-and-mortar retailer but it also extends to a select list of online sellers, which includes Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target.com. The price match also does not extend to professional services or custom order products, such as framing.

 

Petco offers price matching between physical Petco store locations and Petco.com only. It does not price match between other retail stores and online sites, a company representative said.

 

PetSmart will match a competitor’s price on identical items, provided you have proof of the lower price. The policy doesn’t apply for special events or items marked by a competitor as clearance or liquidation. PetSmart.com also will match the price found on a competitor’s website. The exceptions are items being sold by Amazon.com, eBay, other auction websites, or discount/closeout sites.